Active area routing for touch electrodes

ABSTRACT

Touch sensor panels/screens can include metal mesh touch electrodes and routing in the active area. In some examples, the touch sensor panel/screen can include row electrodes and column electrodes disposed over the active area of the display. In some examples, the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in a border region and some of the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in the active area. In some examples, some row electrodes can be shaved down to create an offset from the edge of the active area to accommodate routing traces in the active area. In some examples, the row electrodes can be formed in a first metal mesh layer and some routing traces in the active area can be formed in a second metal mesh layer, different from the first metal mesh layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/933,894, filed Nov. 11, 2019, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This relates generally to touch sensor panels/screens, and moreparticularly to touch sensor panels/screens including metal mesh touchelectrodes and routing in the active area.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Many types of input devices are presently available for performingoperations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice,trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens and the like.Touch screens, in particular, are popular because of their ease andversatility of operation as well as their declining price. Touch screenscan include a touch sensor panel, which can be a clear panel with atouch-sensitive surface, and a display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display or organic lightemitting diode (OLED) display that can be positioned partially or fullybehind the panel so that the touch-sensitive surface can cover at leasta portion of the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens canallow a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensorpanel using a finger, stylus or other object at a location oftendictated by a user interface (UI) being displayed by the display device.In general, touch screens can recognize a touch and the position of thetouch on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can theninterpret the touch in accordance with the display appearing at the timeof the touch, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based onthe touch. In the case of some touch sensing systems, a physical touchon the display is not needed to detect a touch. For example, in somecapacitive-type touch sensing systems, fringing electrical fields usedto detect touch can extend beyond the surface of the display, andobjects approaching near the surface may be detected near the surfacewithout actually touching the surface.

Capacitive touch sensor panels can be formed by a matrix of partially orfully transparent or non-transparent conductive plates (e.g., touchelectrodes) made of materials such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). In someexamples, the conductive plates can be formed from other materialsincluding conductive polymers, metal mesh, graphene, nanowires (e.g.,silver nanowires) or nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes). It is due inpart to their substantial transparency that some capacitive touch sensorpanels can be overlaid on a display to form a touch screen, as describedabove. Some touch screens can be formed by at least partiallyintegrating touch sensing circuitry into a display pixel stack-up (i.e.,the stacked material layers forming the display pixels).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

This relates to touch sensor panels/screens including metal mesh touchelectrodes and routing in the active area. In some examples, the touchsensor panel/screen can include row electrodes and column electrodesdisposed over the active area of the display (the area of the displayvisible to a user). In some examples, the routing traces for the rowelectrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in a border regionand some of the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or columnelectrodes can be disposed in the active area. In some examples, somerow electrodes can be shaved down to create an offset from the edge ofthe active area to accommodate routing traces in the active area. Insome examples, the row electrodes can be formed in a first metal meshlayer and some routing traces in the active area can be formed in asecond metal mesh layer, different from the first metal mesh layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate example systems that can include a touch screenaccording to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example computing system including a touch screenaccording to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit corresponding to aself-capacitance measurement of a touch node electrode and sensingcircuit according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit corresponding to amutual-capacitance drive line and sense line and sensing circuitaccording to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 4A illustrates touch screen with touch electrodes arranged in rowsand columns according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 4B illustrates touch screen with touch node electrodes arranged ina pixelated touch node electrode configuration according to examples ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example touch screen stack-up including a metalmesh layer according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 5B illustrates a top view of a portion of a touch screen accordingto examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 5C illustrates a top view of a portion of a touch screen in adiamond pattern according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example touch screen including row and columnelectrodes according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example touch screen with some routing tracesrouted within the active area according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of a touch screen including some routingtraces routed within the active area according to examples of thedisclosure.

FIG. 9A illustrates example routing traces and touch electrodesaccording to examples of the disclosure.

FIGS. 9B-9C illustrate example metal mesh routing traces according toexamples of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example touch screen including row and columnelectrodes according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bridge between a groundelectrode and a ground routing trace according to examples of thedisclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example touch screen including routing tracesrouted within the active area according to examples of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example touch screen including row and columnelectrodes according to examples of the disclosure

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a row electrode routingtrace over a ground electrode in the active area according to examplesof the disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bridge between a rowtouch electrode and a row electrode routing trace in a border regionaccording to examples of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

In the following description of examples, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shownby way of illustration specific examples that can be practiced. It is tobe understood that other examples can be used and structural changes canbe made without departing from the scope of the disclosed examples.

This relates to touch sensor panels/screens including metal mesh touchelectrodes and routing in the active area. In some examples, the touchsensor panel/screen can include row electrodes and column electrodesdisposed over the active area of the display (the area of the displayvisible to a user). In some examples, the routing traces for the rowelectrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in a border regionand some of the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or columnelectrodes can be disposed in the active area. In some examples, somerow electrodes can be shaved down to create an offset from the edge ofthe active area to accommodate routing traces in the active area. Insome examples, the row electrodes can be formed in a first metal meshlayer and some routing traces in the active area can be formed in asecond metal mesh layer, different from the first metal mesh layer.

FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate example systems that can include a touch screenaccording to examples of the disclosure. FIG. 1A illustrates an examplemobile telephone 136 that includes a touch screen 124 according toexamples of the disclosure. FIG. 1B illustrates an example digital mediaplayer 140 that includes a touch screen 126 according to examples of thedisclosure. FIG. 1C illustrates an example personal computer 144 thatincludes a touch screen 128 according to examples of the disclosure.FIG. 1D illustrates an example tablet computing device 148 that includesa touch screen 130 according to examples of the disclosure. FIG. 1Eillustrates an example wearable device 150 that includes a touch screen132 and can be attached to a user using a strap 152 according toexamples of the disclosure. It is understood that a touch screen can beimplemented in other devices as well.

In some examples, touch screens 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 can be can bebased on self-capacitance. A self-capacitance based touch system caninclude a matrix of small, individual plates of conductive material orgroups of individual plates of conductive material forming largerconductive regions that can be referred to as touch electrodes or astouch node electrodes (as described below with reference to FIG. 4B).For example, a touch screen can include a plurality of individual touchelectrodes, each touch electrode identifying or representing a uniquelocation (e.g., a touch node) on the touch screen at which touch orproximity is to be sensed, and each touch node electrode beingelectrically isolated from the other touch node electrodes in the touchscreen/panel. Such a touch screen can be referred to as a pixelatedself-capacitance touch screen, though it is understood that in someexamples, the touch node electrodes on the touch screen can be used toperform scans other than self-capacitance scans on the touch screen(e.g., mutual capacitance scans). During operation, a touch nodeelectrode can be stimulated with an alternating current (AC) waveform,and the self-capacitance to ground of the touch node electrode can bemeasured. As an object approaches the touch node electrode, theself-capacitance to ground of the touch node electrode can change (e.g.,increase). This change in the self-capacitance of the touch nodeelectrode can be detected and measured by the touch sensing system todetermine the positions of multiple objects when they touch, or come inproximity to, the touch screen. In some examples, the touch nodeelectrodes of a self-capacitance based touch system can be formed fromrows and columns of conductive material, and changes in theself-capacitance to ground of the rows and columns can be detected,similar to above. In some examples, a touch screen can be multi-touch,single touch, projection scan, full-imaging multi-touch, capacitivetouch, etc.

In some examples, touch screens 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 can be basedon mutual capacitance. A mutual capacitance based touch system caninclude electrodes arranged as drive and sense lines that may cross overeach other on different layers (in a double-sided configuration), or maybe adjacent to each other on the same layer (e.g., as described belowwith reference to FIG. 4A). The crossing or adjacent locations can formtouch nodes. During operation, the drive line can be stimulated with anAC waveform and the mutual capacitance of the touch node can bemeasured. As an object approaches the touch node, the mutual capacitanceof the touch node can change (e.g., decrease). This change in the mutualcapacitance of the touch node can be detected and measured by the touchsensing system to determine the positions of multiple objects when theytouch, or come in proximity to, the touch screen. As described herein,in some examples, a mutual capacitance based touch system can form touchnodes from a matrix of small, individual plates of conductive material.

In some examples, touch screens 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 can be basedon mutual capacitance and/or self-capacitance. The electrodes can bearrange as a matrix of small, individual plates of conductive material(e.g., as in touch node electrodes 408 in touch screen 402 in FIG. 4B)or as drive lines and sense lines (e.g., as in row touch electrodes 404and column touch electrodes 406 in touch screen 400 in FIG. 4A), or inanother pattern. The electrodes can be configurable for mutualcapacitance or self-capacitance sensing or a combination of mutual andself-capacitance sensing. For example, in one mode of operationelectrodes can be configured to sense mutual capacitance betweenelectrodes and in a different mode of operation electrodes can beconfigured to sense self-capacitance of electrodes. In some examples,some of the electrodes can be configured to sense mutual capacitancetherebetween and some of the electrodes can be configured to senseself-capacitance thereof.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example computing system including a touch screenaccording to examples of the disclosure. Computing system 200 can beincluded in, for example, a mobile phone, tablet, touchpad, portable ordesktop computer, portable media player, wearable device or any mobileor non-mobile computing device that includes a touch screen or touchsensor panel. Computing system 200 can include a touch sensing systemincluding one or more touch processors 202, peripherals 204, a touchcontroller 206, and touch sensing circuitry (described in more detailbelow). Peripherals 204 can include, but are not limited to, randomaccess memory (RAM) or other types of memory or storage, watchdog timersand the like. Touch controller 206 can include, but is not limited to,one or more sense channels 208, channel scan logic 210 and driver logic214. Channel scan logic 210 can access RAM 212, autonomously read datafrom the sense channels and provide control for the sense channels. Inaddition, channel scan logic 210 can control driver logic 214 togenerate stimulation signals 216 at various frequencies and/or phasesthat can be selectively applied to drive regions of the touch sensingcircuitry of touch screen 220, as described in more detail below. Insome examples, touch controller 206, touch processor 202 and peripherals204 can be integrated into a single application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), and in some examples can be integrated with touch screen220 itself.

It should be apparent that the architecture shown in FIG. 2 is only oneexample architecture of computing system 200, and that the system couldhave more or fewer components than shown, or a different configurationof components. In some examples, computing system 200 can include anenergy storage device (e.g., a battery) to provide a power supply and/orcommunication circuitry to provide for wired or wireless communication(e.g., cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.). The various components shownin FIG. 2 can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or anycombination thereof, including one or more signal processing and/orapplication specific integrated circuits.

Computing system 200 can include a host processor 228 for receivingoutputs from touch processor 202 and performing actions based on theoutputs. For example, host processor 228 can be connected to programstorage 232 and a display controller/driver 234 (e.g., a Liquid-CrystalDisplay (LCD) driver). It is understood that although some examples ofthe disclosure may described with reference to LCD displays, the scopeof the disclosure is not so limited and can extend to other types ofdisplays, such as Light-Emitting Diode (LED) displays, including OrganicLED (OLED), Active-Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED) and Passive-MatrixOrganic LED (PMOLED) displays. Display driver 234 can provide voltageson select (e.g., gate) lines to each pixel transistor and can providedata signals along data lines to these same transistors to control thepixel display image.

Host processor 228 can use display driver 234 to generate a displayimage on touch screen 220, such as a display image of a user interface(UI), and can use touch processor 202 and touch controller 206 to detecta touch on or near touch screen 220, such as a touch input to thedisplayed UI. The touch input can be used by computer programs stored inprogram storage 232 to perform actions that can include, but are notlimited to, moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling orpanning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewinga menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating aperipheral device connected to the host device, answering a telephonecall, placing a telephone call, terminating a telephone call, changingthe volume or audio settings, storing information related to telephonecommunications such as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, receivedcalls, missed calls, logging onto a computer or a computer network,permitting authorized individuals access to restricted areas of thecomputer or computer network, loading a user profile associated with auser's preferred arrangement of the computer desktop, permitting accessto web content, launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding amessage, and/or the like. Host processor 228 can also perform additionalfunctions that may not be related to touch processing.

Note that one or more of the functions described herein, can beperformed by firmware stored in memory (e.g., one of the peripherals 204in FIG. 2) and executed by touch processor 202, or stored in programstorage 232 and executed by host processor 228. The firmware can also bestored and/or transported within any non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium for use by or in connection with an instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system,processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or deviceand execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a“non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium(excluding signals) that can contain or store the program for use by orin connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice. In some examples, RAM 212 or program storage 232 (or both) canbe a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. One or both of RAM212 and program storage 232 can have stored therein instructions, whichwhen executed by touch processor 202 or host processor 228 or both, cancause the device including computing system 200 to perform one or morefunctions and methods of one or more examples of this disclosure. Thecomputer-readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus or device, a portable computer diskette(magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory(ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM)(magnetic), a portable optical disc such a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R,or DVD-RW, or flash memory such as compact flash cards, secured digitalcards, USB memory devices, memory sticks, and the like.

The firmware can also be propagated within any transport medium for useby or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. Inthe context of this document, a “transport medium” can be any mediumthat can communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by orin connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice. The transport medium can include, but is not limited to, anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or infrared wired orwireless propagation medium.

Touch screen 220 can be used to derive touch information at multiplediscrete locations of the touch screen, referred to herein as touchnodes. Touch screen 220 can include touch sensing circuitry that caninclude a capacitive sensing medium having a plurality of drive lines222 and a plurality of sense lines 223. It should be noted that the term“lines” is sometimes used herein to mean simply conductive pathways, asone skilled in the art will readily understand, and is not limited toelements that are strictly linear, but includes pathways that changedirection, and includes pathways of different size, shape, materials,etc. Drive lines 222 can be driven by stimulation signals 216 fromdriver logic 214 through a drive interface 224, and resulting sensesignals 217 generated in sense lines 223 can be transmitted through asense interface 225 to sense channels 208 in touch controller 206. Inthis way, drive lines and sense lines can be part of the touch sensingcircuitry that can interact to form capacitive sensing nodes, which canbe thought of as touch picture elements (touch pixels) and referred toherein as touch nodes, such as touch nodes 226 and 227. This way ofunderstanding can be particularly useful when touch screen 220 is viewedas capturing an “image” of touch (“touch image”). In other words, aftertouch controller 206 has determined whether a touch has been detected ateach touch nodes in the touch screen, the pattern of touch nodes in thetouch screen at which a touch occurred can be thought of as an “image”of touch (e.g., a pattern of fingers touching the touch screen). As usedherein, an electrical component “coupled to” or “connected to” anotherelectrical component encompasses a direct or indirect connectionproviding electrical path for communication or operation between thecoupled components. Thus, for example, drive lines 222 may be directlyconnected to driver logic 214 or indirectly connected to drive logic 214via drive interface 224 and sense lines 223 may be directly connected tosense channels 208 or indirectly connected to sense channels 208 viasense interface 225. In either case an electrical path for drivingand/or sensing the touch nodes can be provided.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit 300 correspondingto a self-capacitance measurement of a touch node electrode 302 andsensing circuit 314 according to examples of the disclosure. Touch nodeelectrode 302 can correspond to a touch electrode 404 or 406 of touchscreen 400 or a touch node electrode 408 of touch screen 402. Touch nodeelectrode 302 can have an inherent self-capacitance to ground associatedwith it, and also an additional self-capacitance to ground that isformed when an object, such as finger 305, is in proximity to ortouching the electrode. The total self-capacitance to ground of touchnode electrode 302 can be illustrated as capacitance 304. Touch nodeelectrode 302 can be coupled to sensing circuit 314. Sensing circuit 314can include an operational amplifier 308, feedback resistor 312 andfeedback capacitor 310, although other configurations can be employed.For example, feedback resistor 312 can be replaced by a switchedcapacitor resistor in order to minimize a parasitic capacitance effectthat can be caused by a variable feedback resistor. Touch node electrode302 can be coupled to the inverting input (−) of operational amplifier308. An AC voltage source 306 (Vac) can be coupled to the non-invertinginput (+) of operational amplifier 308. Touch sensor circuit 300 can beconfigured to sense changes (e.g., increases) in the totalself-capacitance 304 of the touch node electrode 302 induced by a fingeror object either touching or in proximity to the touch sensor panel.Output 320 can be used by a processor to determine the presence of aproximity or touch event, or the output can be inputted into a discretelogic network to determine the presence of a proximity or touch event.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit 350 correspondingto a mutual-capacitance drive line 322 and sense line 326 and sensingcircuit 314 according to examples of the disclosure. Drive line 322 canbe stimulated by stimulation signal 306 (e.g., an AC voltage signal).Stimulation signal 306 can be capacitively coupled to sense line 326through mutual capacitance 324 between drive line 322 and the senseline. When a finger or object 305 approaches the touch node created bythe intersection of drive line 322 and sense line 326, mutualcapacitance 324 can change (e.g., decrease). This change in mutualcapacitance 324 can be detected to indicate a touch or proximity eventat the touch node, as described herein. The sense signal coupled ontosense line 326 can be received by sensing circuit 314. Sensing circuit314 can include operational amplifier 308 and at least one of a feedbackresistor 312 and a feedback capacitor 310. FIG. 3B illustrates a generalcase in which both resistive and capacitive feedback elements areutilized. The sense signal (referred to as Vin) can be inputted into theinverting input of operational amplifier 308, and the non-invertinginput of the operational amplifier can be coupled to a reference voltageVref. Operational amplifier 308 can drive its output to voltage Vo tokeep Vin substantially equal to Vref, and can therefore maintain yinconstant or virtually grounded. A person of skill in the art wouldunderstand that in this context, equal can include deviations of up to15%. Therefore, the gain of sensing circuit 314 can be mostly a functionof the ratio of mutual capacitance 324 and the feedback impedance,comprised of resistor 312 and/or capacitor 310. The output of sensingcircuit 314 Vo can be filtered and heterodyned or homodyned by being fedinto multiplier 328, where Vo can be multiplied with local oscillator330 to produce Vdetect. Vdetect can be inputted into filter 332. Oneskilled in the art will recognize that the placement of filter 332 canbe varied; thus, the filter can be placed after multiplier 328, asillustrated, or two filters can be employed: one before the multiplierand one after the multiplier. In some examples, there can be no filterat all. The direct current (DC) portion of Vdetect can be used todetermine if a touch or proximity event has occurred. Note that whileFIGS. 3A-3B indicate the demodulation at multiplier 328 occurs in theanalog domain, output Vo may be digitized by an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC), and blocks 328, 332 and 330 may be implemented in adigital fashion (e.g., 328 can be a digital demodulator, 332 can be adigital filter, and 330 can be a digital NCO (Numerical ControlledOscillator).

Referring back to FIG. 2, in some examples, touch screen 220 can be anintegrated touch screen in which touch sensing circuit elements of thetouch sensing system can be integrated into the display pixel stack-upsof a display. The circuit elements in touch screen 220 can include, forexample, elements that can exist in LCD or other displays (LED display,OLED display, etc.), such as one or more pixel transistors (e.g., thinfilm transistors (TFTs)), gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes andcommon electrodes. In a given display pixel, a voltage between a pixelelectrode and a common electrode can control a luminance of the displaypixel. The voltage on the pixel electrode can be supplied by a data linethrough a pixel transistor, which can be controlled by a gate line. Itis noted that circuit elements are not limited to whole circuitcomponents, such as a whole capacitor, a whole transistor, etc., but caninclude portions of circuitry, such as only one of the two plates of aparallel plate capacitor.

FIG. 4A illustrates touch screen 400 with touch electrodes 404 and 406arranged in rows and columns according to examples of the disclosure.Specifically, touch screen 400 can include a plurality of touchelectrodes 404 disposed as rows, and a plurality of touch electrodes 406disposed as columns. Touch electrodes 404 and touch electrodes 406 canbe on the same or different material layers on touch screen 400, and canintersect with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. In some examples,the electrodes can be formed on opposite sides of a transparent(partially or fully) substrate and from a transparent (partially orfully) semiconductor material, such as ITO, though other materials arepossible. Electrodes displayed on layers on different sides of thesubstrate can be referred to herein as a double-sided sensor. In someexamples, touch screen 400 can sense the self-capacitance of touchelectrodes 404 and 406 to detect touch and/or proximity activity ontouch screen 400, and in some examples, touch screen 400 can sense themutual capacitance between touch electrodes 404 and 406 to detect touchand/or proximity activity on touch screen 400.

Although FIG. 4A illustrates touch electrodes 404 and touch electrodes406 as rectangular electrodes, in some examples, other shapes andconfigurations are possible for row and column electrodes. For example,in some examples, some or all row and column electrodes can be formedfrom multiple touch electrodes formed on one side of substrate from atransparent (partially or fully) semiconductor material. The touchelectrodes of a particular row or column can be interconnected bycoupling segments and/or bridges. Row and column electrodes formed in alayer on the same side of a substrate can be referred to herein as asingle-sided sensor. For example, as described in more detail below(e.g., in FIG. 6), row and column electrodes can have a diamondarchitecture in which a plurality of diamond-shaped touch electrodes(touch electrodes having diamond shapes) are arranged to form rows and aplurality of diamond-shaped touch electrodes are arranged to formcolumns.

FIG. 4B illustrates touch screen 402 with touch node electrodes 408arranged in a pixelated touch node electrode configuration according toexamples of the disclosure. Specifically, touch screen 402 can include aplurality of individual touch node electrodes 408, each touch nodeelectrode identifying or representing a unique location on the touchscreen at which touch or proximity (i.e., a touch or proximity event) isto be sensed, and each touch node electrode being electrically isolatedfrom the other touch node electrodes in the touch screen/panel, aspreviously described. Touch node electrodes 408 can be on the same ordifferent material layers on touch screen 402. In some examples, touchscreen 402 can sense the self-capacitance of touch node electrodes 408to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen 402, and insome examples, touch screen 402 can sense the mutual capacitance betweentouch node electrodes 408 to detect touch and/or proximity activity ontouch screen 402.

As described herein, in some examples, touch electrodes of the touchscreen can be formed from a metal mesh. FIG. 5A illustrates an exampletouch screen stack-up including a metal mesh layer according to examplesof the disclosure. Touch screen 500 can include a substrate 509 (e.g., aprinted circuit board) upon which display LEDs 508 can be mounted. Insome examples, the LEDs 508 can be partially or fully embedded insubstrate 509 (e.g., the components can be placed in depressions in thesubstrate). Substrate 509 can include routing traces in one or morelayers (e.g., represented by metal layer 510 in FIG. 5A) to route theLEDs to display driving circuitry (e.g., display driver 234). Thestack-up of touch screen 500 can also include one or more passivationlayers deposited over the LEDs 508. For example, the stack-up of touchscreen 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 can include a passivation layer 507(e.g., transparent epoxy) and passivation layer 517. Passivation layers507 and 517 can planarize the surface for respective metal mesh layers.Additionally, the passivation layers can provide electrical isolation(e.g., between metal mesh layers and between the LEDs and a metal meshlayer. Metal mesh layer 516 (e.g., copper, silver, etc.) can bedeposited on the planarized surface of the passivation layer 517 overthe display LEDs 508, and metal mesh layer 506 (e.g., copper, silver,etc.) can be deposited on the planarized surface of passivation layer507. In some examples, the passivation layer 517 can include material toencapsulate the LEDs to protect them from corrosion or otherenvironmental exposure. Metal mesh layer 506 and/or metal mesh layer 516can include a pattern of conductor material in a mesh pattern describedbelow. Additionally, although not shown in FIG. 5A, a border region(e.g., a region that is not visible to a user) around the display activearea can include metallization (or other conductive material) that maynot be a metal mesh pattern. In some examples, metal mesh is formed of anon-transparent material but the metal mesh wires are sufficiently thinand sparse to appear transparent to the human eye. The touch electrodes(and some routing) as described herein can be formed in the metal meshlayer(s) from portions of the metal mesh. In some examples, polarizer504 can be disposed above the metal mesh layer 506 (optionally withanother planarization layer disposed over the metal mesh layer 506).Cover glass (or front crystal) 502 can be disposed over polarizer 504and form the outer surface of touch screen 500. It is understood thatalthough two metal mesh layers (and two corresponding planarizationlayers) are illustrated, in some examples more or fewer metal meshlayers (and corresponding planarization layers) can be implemented

FIG. 5B illustrates a top view of a portion of touch screen 500according to examples of the disclosure. The top view shows metal mesh520 (e.g., a portion of metal mesh layer 506) together with LEDs 508 oftouch screen 500. The LEDs can be arranged in groups of three proximateLEDs, including a red LED (e.g., red LED 524), a green LED (e.g., greenLED 526), and a blue LED (e.g., blue LED 528), to form standardred-green-blue (RGB) display pixels. Although primarily described hereinin terms of an RGB display pixel, it is understood that other touchpixels are possible with different numbers of LEDs and/or differentcolor LEDs. The metal mesh can be formed of conductors (e.g., metal meshwires) disposed in a pattern to allow light to pass (at leastvertically) through the gaps in the mesh (e.g., the LEDs 508 can bedisposed in the LED layer opposite openings in the metal mesh disposedin the metal mesh layer(s) 506 and/or 516). In other words, theconductors of metal mesh layer can be patterned so that conceptuallyflattening the metal mesh layer and LEDs into the same layer, theconductors and the LEDs do not overlap. In some examples, the metal meshwires in the metal mesh layer may overlap (at least partially) some ofthe LEDs 508, but may be thin enough or sparse enough to not obstruct ahuman's view of the LEDs.

FIG. 5B includes example metal mesh unit 522 (shown in bold) includingan example display pixel and corresponding metal mesh unit (shown inbold). Example unit 522 includes a display pixel with a red LED 524, agreen LED 526, and a blue LED 528. The corresponding metal mesh can beformed of conductive material 530 (e.g., a metallic conductor such ascopper, silver, etc.) disposed in the metal mesh layer around theperimeter of the LEDs (optionally with some space between the LED andthe metal material in the plane of the touch screen). The metal meshcan, in some examples, form a rectangular shape (or other suitable shapeincluding polygonal shapes, etc.) around each of the LEDs, asillustrated in FIG. 5B. The pattern of LEDs forming the display pixelscan be repeated across the touch screen to form the display. Duringfabrication, the metal mesh in the example unit 522 can repeat acrossthe touch screen to form a touch screen with uniform opticalcharacteristics. It should be understood that the arrangement of LEDsand the corresponding metal mesh are merely an example, and otherarrangements of LEDs and corresponding metal mesh patterns are possible.

For example, FIG. 5C illustrates a top view of a portion of touch screen500 in a diamond pattern according to examples of the disclosure. Thetop view shows metal mesh 540 (e.g., a portion of metal mesh layer 506)together with LEDs 508 of touch screen 500. The LEDs can be arranged ingroups of three proximate LEDs, including a red LED (e.g., red LED 544),a green LED (e.g., green LED 546), and a blue LED (e.g., blue LED 548),to form standard red-green-blue (RGB) display pixels. Although primarilydescribed herein in terms of an RGB display pixel, it is understood thatother touch pixels are possible with different numbers of LEDs and/ordifferent color LEDs. The metal mesh can be formed of conductors (e.g.,metal mesh wires) disposed in a pattern to allow light to pass (at leastvertically) through the gaps in the mesh (e.g., the LEDs 508 can bedisposed in the LED layer opposite openings in the metal mesh disposedin the metal mesh layer(s) 506 and/or 516). In other words, theconductors of metal mesh layer can be patterned so that conceptuallyflattening the metal mesh layer(s) and LEDs into the same layer, theconductors and the LEDs do not overlap. In some examples, the metal meshwires in the metal mesh layer may overlap (at least partially) some ofthe LEDs 508, but may be thin enough or sparse enough to not obstruct ahuman's view of the LEDs. The metal mesh 540 can formed in a diamondpattern around LEDs arranged in a diamond configuration.

As described herein, the touch electrodes and/or routing can be formedfrom the metal mesh. To form the electrically isolated touch electrodesor electrically isolated groups of touch electrodes (e.g., groups oftouch electrodes forming row electrodes or column electrodes), the metalmesh can be cut (e.g., chemically or laser etched, among otherpossibilities) to form a boundary between two adjacent touch electrodes,between two adjacent routing traces or between a routing trace andadjacent touch electrode. The cut in the metal mesh can electricallyisolate the metal mesh forming a first touch electrode (or first groupof touch electrodes) from the metal mesh forming a second touchelectrode (or second group of touch electrodes). Similarly, cuts to themetal mesh can be made to electrically isolate the metal mesh forming afirst touch electrode from a first routing trace or to electricallyisolate the first routing trace from a second routing trace.

As mentioned above, in some examples, a touch screen can include rowelectrodes and/or column electrodes formed from multiple touchelectrodes having a diamond architecture. FIG. 6 illustrates an exampletouch screen 600 including row and column electrodes according toexamples of the disclosure. Touch screen 600 illustrated in FIG. 6includes row electrodes 602 formed of diamond-shaped touch electrodes602′ and column electrodes 604 formed of diamond-shaped touch electrodes604′. Touch electrodes near the perimeter of touch screen 600 can betruncated such that the touch electrode is a portion of a diamond-shapedtouch electrode (e.g., a half-diamond). The touch electrodes forming arespective row electrode or column electrode can be connected. Forexample, touch electrodes 602′ of a respective row electrode 602 can beconnected via conductors 602″ (e.g., conductive segments) and touchelectrodes 604′ of a respective column electrode 604 can be connectedvia conductors 604″ (e.g., bridges). As described herein with respect toFIGS. 5A-5C, in some examples, row electrodes 602 and column electrodes604 can be formed of metal mesh. In some examples, the touch electrodes602′ and 604′ forming row electrodes 602 and column electrodes 604 canbe disposed in a first metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metalmesh layer 506) and bridging conductors 604″ can be formed of metal meshin a second metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metal mesh layer516), and can be coupled to the touch electrodes 604′ in the first metalmesh layer (e.g., by a via). In some examples, a conductor 604″ may be awire bond or other bridge formed without using a second metal meshlayer.

Touch screen 600 can include row electrodes 602 and column electrodes604 disposed over a display. In some examples, row electrodes 602 andcolumn electrodes 604 can overlap the display such that the touchelectrodes overlay the active area 610 (visible area) of the display(indicated by the dashed line). In some examples, the touch electrodesmay cover more or less than the active area 610. In some examples, asillustrated in FIG. 6, row electrodes 602 and column electrodes 604 canbe routed to touch sensing circuitry (e.g., touch controller 206) viarouting traces in the border region 620 outside of active area 610. Forexample, routing traces 606 in the left hand side of border region 620can route row electrodes 602 from the active area to the bottom side ofborder region 620 and routing traces 608 in the bottom side of borderregion 620 can route column electrodes 604 from the active area to thebottom side of border region 620. In some examples, the routing traces606 and 608 can terminate in bond pads for a flexible circuit. It isunderstood that FIG. 6 represents one implementation of routing tracesand that other implementations are possible. For example, row electrodes602 can additionally or alternatively be routed via optional routingtraces 606′ (in the right hand side of border region 620) and columntraces can be additionally or alternatively routed from the top side ofborder region 620 (via optional routing traces, not shown).Additionally, in some examples, the routing traces 606 can terminate onthe left hand side of the border area in bond pads. Although FIG. 6illustrates touch screen 600 as including six row electrodes and fivecolumn electrodes, it is understood that touch screen 600 can includedifferent numbers of row electrodes and/or column electrodes.

In some examples, the border region (e.g., border region 620) of a touchscreen can be reduced by routing some (or all) of the traces within theactive area (e.g., active area 610) of a touch screen. FIG. 7illustrates an example touch screen 700 with some routing traces routedwithin the active area according to examples of the disclosure. Touchscreen 700 can include row electrodes 702 and column electrodes 704overlaid over active area 710 (e.g., corresponding to row electrodes602, column electrodes 604, and active area 610). Although FIG. 7illustrates touch screen 700 as including six row electrodes and fivecolumn electrodes, it is understood that touch screen 700 can includedifferent numbers of row electrodes and/or column electrodes. Some rowelectrodes 702 can be routed via routing traces 706 in border region 720and column electrodes 704 can be routed via routing traces 708 in theborder region 720 (e.g., corresponding to routing traces 606, 608 inborder region 620). Unlike in touch screen 600 in FIG. 6, however, intouch screen 700 of FIG. 7, some row electrodes 702 can be routed viarouting traces 712 disposed at least partially (or entirely) withinactive area 710. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a touch sensor panelincluding four row electrodes 702A-702D with routing traces 712 disposedin active area 710 (not in the left hand side of border region 720) andtwo row electrodes with routing traces not disposed in active area 710(disposed in the left hand side of border region 720). In some examples,the routing can also be mirrored on the right hand side of touch screen700. It should be understood that the touch screen can include adifferent number of row electrodes with routing in the active area and adifferent number of row electrodes with routing outside the active area.

By using routing traces 712 within the active area 710, the borderregion can be reduced. For example, the width of the left hand side ofborder region 720 (labeled “W” in FIG. 7) can be reduced with respect tothe width of the left hand side of border region 620 (labeled “W” inFIG. 6). In a similar manner the right hand side of border region 720can be reduced compared with the right hand side of border region 620 byrouting some of the routing traces in active area 710. Although notillustrated in FIG. 7, in some examples, the border on the top andbottom can also be reduced by moving some routing traces for columnelectrodes 704 at least partially within the active area 710.

To make space for routing traces 712 in active area 710 (in the samemetal mesh later as the row electrodes), some touch electrodes of rowelectrodes along the edge of active area 710 can be reduced in size. Insome examples, to make space for routing traces 712 in active area 710some touch electrodes of a column electrode proximate to the edge ofactive area 710 can be reduced in size. FIG. 8 illustrates a portion ofa touch screen 700 including some routing traces routed within theactive area according to examples of the disclosure. For example, FIG. 8includes touch electrodes 802A-802F (e.g., corresponding to left-mosttouch electrodes 702′ in FIG. 7) and corresponding routing traces804A-804F (e.g., corresponding to routing traces 706, 712). Routingtraces 804A and 804B corresponding to touch electrodes 802A and 802B canbe routed in border region 820 and routing traces 804C-804Fcorresponding to touch electrodes 802C-802F can be routed in active area810. To accommodate routing traces 804C-804F, touch electrodes 802D-802Fcan be shaved to reduce their size (e.g., by removing metal mesh incorresponding regions to form routing traces). For example, touchelectrode 802F can have an offset ΔX₃ from the left hand side of activearea 810, touch electrode 802E can have an offset ΔX₂ from the left handside of active area 810, and touch electrode 802D can have an offset ΔX₁from the left hand side of active area 810, where ΔX₁<ΔX₂<ΔX₃. Touchelectrode ΔX₂ can have an offset of zero, such that touch electrode 802Ccan be the same size offset as touch electrodes 802A and 802B. As aresult of non-zero offsets, touch electrodes 802D-802F can, in someexamples, have a smaller area. In some examples, touch electrode 802Ccan also have a non-zero offset. Although not shown in FIG. 8 (but shownin FIG. 7), the touch electrode of a column electrode closest to theleft hand side of active area 810 can also be shaved down, in someexamples, to accommodate the routing traces in the active area (formedin the same metal mesh layer).

As described herein, some routing traces (e.g., routing traces804C-804F) can be disposed in the active area and some routing traces(e.g., routing traces 804A and 804B) can be disposed in the borderregion. In some examples, a row electrode within a threshold distance ofa (bottom) edge of the active area can be routed by routing traces inthe active area, and a row electrode outside of the threshold distancecan be routed in the border region. For example, row electrodescorresponding to touch electrodes 802C-802F can have offsets ΔY₀₋₃respectively that can be less than the threshold distance from thebottom edge of the active area (the edge proximate to the termination ofthe routing traces in the bottom side of the border region). Thus,routing traces with longer paths (that can negatively impact the routingtrace impedance) can be disposed in the border region where the width ofthe routing trace can be increased (to counteract the increasedimpedance due to trace length). Routing traces with shorter paths canhave narrower routing traces and can be disposed in the active area(where the narrowness of the routing trace least impacts the touchperformance due to minimal shaving of the touch electrodes). Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the widths (W₁ and W₂) of routing traces 804A and804B can be greater than the widths (W₃-W₆) of routing traces 804C-804F.In some examples, routing traces 804A and 804B can have the same width(W₁=W₂). In some examples, routing traces 804A and 804B can havedifferent widths (W₁!=W₂). For example, the width of routing trace 804Acan be greater than the width of routing trace 804B due to therelatively longer path length of routing trace 804A compared withrouting trace 804B (W₁>W₂). In a similar manner, in some examples, thewidth of the routing traces in the active area can be the same width(W₃=W₄=W₅=W₆) or different widths. In some examples, the widths of therouting traces in the active area can decrease the closer the respectivetouch electrode is to the bottom edge (edge proximate to termination ofthe routing traces) of the active area (W₃>W₄>W₅>W₆).

In some examples, the number of routing traces in the border region andthe number of routing traces in the active area (or the thresholddistance) can determined based on a tradeoff between impedanceperformance and border region size. For example, increasing the numberof active area routing traces can reduce the border region size.However, increasing the number of active area routing traces can alsoincrease the routing trace impedance as the distance to the rowelectrodes increases (due to the relative narrowness of active areatraces over border area traces). As a result, the maximum routing traceimpedance can increase for shorter active area routing traces comparedwith longer border region routing traces. In some examples, empiricaldata can be used to optimize the number of routing traces in the activearea (to reduce the border width) such that the maximum routing traceimpedance is minimized for the routing traces.

As described herein, the touch electrodes and routing traces in theactive area can be formed of metal mesh. FIG. 9A illustrates examplerouting traces and touch electrodes according to examples of thedisclosure, including touch electrodes and routing traces in the activearea formed from metal mesh (in the same metal mesh layer). As analternative to the rectangular metal mesh illustrated in FIG. 5B, insome examples, the metal mesh can also be formed in a diamond pattern(or other polygonal-shaped pattern) as shown in FIG. 5C. As illustratedin FIG. 9A, touch electrodes 902B, 902C and 902D (e.g., corresponding to802B, 802C and 802D, respectively) can be formed from metal mesh wiresforming diamond shapes. In addition to forming touch electrodes 902B,902C and 902D from metal mesh, routing traces in the active area canalso be formed from the metal mesh. For example, routing traces 904C and904D in the active area can be formed from metal mesh. In some examples,routing traces in the border region (e.g., routing traces 904A and 904B)can be formed from conductors other than metal mesh. In some examples,routing traces formed in the border area can also be formed of metalmesh.

As illustrated in FIG. 9A, routing traces 904C and 904D can have a widthof two “metal mesh wire paths” (including the pitch distance spacingtherebetween) such that the metal mesh wires form a closed diamond shape(or other polygonal shape). For example, an imaginary vertical linebisecting routing trace 904C or 904D can be viewed as providing twounique “metal mesh wire paths,” each metal mesh wire path capable ofproviding an electrical coupling path. By using two metal mesh wirepaths (effectively doubling number of metal mesh wires forming therouting trace), the effective impedance of the routing trace can bereduced. In some examples, the routing trace can be separated by cuts orelectrical discontinuities in the metal mesh wires between the routingtraces.

FIG. 9B illustrates example metal mesh routing traces 914C and 914Daccording to examples of the disclosure that can correspond to amagnified view of a portion of routing traces 904C and 904D. As shown inFIG. 9B, routing traces 914C and 914D can have a width of two metal meshwire paths (including the pitch distance therebetween). In someexamples, the routing traces 914C and 914D can be separated by a widthof one metal mesh wire path (and associated pitch distance). In someexamples, the metal mesh forming the one metal mesh wire path betweenthe routing traces can be removed entirely (e.g., the dashed linerepresenting the metal mesh wire path can be removed entirely). In someexamples, the routing trace can be separated by cuts or electricaldiscontinuities in the metal mesh wires between the routing traceswithout entirely removing the metal mesh wire path between the routingtraces. In some examples, the spacing between routing traces can be morethan the width of one metal mesh wire path.

Although a width of two metal mesh wire paths (forming a closedpolygonal shape are shown in FIGS. 9A-9B), it should be understood thata different width is possible. For example, the width can be one metalmesh wire path (e.g., half of the routing trace illustrated in FIGS.9A-9B, bisected by the imaginary vertical line) or more than two metalmesh wire paths (e.g., 3, 4, etc.). For example, FIG. 9C illustratesexample metal mesh routing traces 924C and 924D according to examples ofthe disclosure that can be routed in the active area to touchelectrodes. As shown in FIG. 9C, routing traces 924C and 924D can have awidth of one metal mesh wire path. In some examples, the routing traces924C and 924D can be separated by a width of one metal mesh wire path ina similar manner as described above with respect to FIG. 9B.

Additionally, although the width of routing traces is uniform for eachrouting trace illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9C, it should be understood thatin some examples, the width may not be uniform. For example, asdescribed above, in some example, the further a row electrode is fromthe bottom edge of the active area, the wider the routing trace can be.Additionally, although the width of routing traces is uniform for thelength of the routing traces illustrated in FIG. 9A-9C, it should beunderstood that the width could vary within the active area (or outsidethe active area). For example, the width can be two metal mesh wirepaths in a first region of the active area and can be more or less thantwo metal mesh wire paths in a second region of the active area.Additionally, although the two metal mesh wire paths are shown together(adjacent paths forming closed polygonal shapes) in FIGS. 9A-9B, itshould be understood that metal mesh wire paths for a given touchelectrode can be separated (e.g., spaced to form non-adjacent metal meshwire paths), but remain electrically connected (e.g., at the touchelectrode and/or in the border region).

In some examples, the width (and arrangement) of the metal mesh wiresforming the routing traces in the active area can be optimized. Forexample, the width of the metal mesh wires (the number of metal meshwires) can be tradeoff between the routing trace impedance and theimpact on touch sensor performance. For example, increasing the width ofthe routing trace (or number of metal mesh wires) can reduce theimpedance of the routing trace. However, increasing the width of therouting trace (or number of metal mesh wires) can require more shavingof the metal mesh forming touch electrodes (to make space for the widerrouting traces in the same metal mesh layer). More shaving the metalmesh touch electrodes can reduce the optical uniformity of the touchscreen and can reduce uniformity of the touch signal measured at edgesof the touch screen.

Referring back to FIGS. 6 and 7, touch screens 600 and 700 including rowand column electrodes formed of diamond-shaped touch electrodes (or aportion of a diamond along the edges of the touch screen). In someexamples, one or more of the diamond-shaped touch electrodes can includea ground (or other potential) electrode or a floating electrode. Forexample, the ground or floating electrodes can be regions of conductivematerial positioned within a larger touch electrode (e.g., in the samemetal mesh layer), and resistively isolated from the touch electrode. Insome examples, the touch electrode, the ground electrode and thefloating electrode can be formed of metal mesh with the ground electrodeand/or floating electrode isolated from the touch electrode by cuts orelectrical discontinuities in the metal mesh wires forming the touchelectrode. In some examples, the ground or floating electrodes can beformed of other conductive materials/films (e.g., ITO or otherelectrical conductors, transparent or otherwise, rather than metalmesh). In some examples, row electrodes can include one or more groundelectrodes in one or more of its touch electrodes, and column electrodescan include one or more floating electrodes in one or more of its touchelectrodes. In some examples, column electrodes can include one or moreground electrodes in one or more of its touch electrodes, and rowelectrodes can include one or more floating electrodes in one or more ofits touch electrodes.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example touch screen 1000 including row andcolumn electrodes according to examples of the disclosure. Touch screen1000 includes row electrodes 1002 and column electrodes 1004 formed ofdiamond-shaped touch electrodes (e.g., similar to touch screens 600 and700). One or more of the diamond-shaped touch electrodes in rowselectrodes 1002 can include a ground (or other potential) electrode(s)1014A and 1014B. One or more of the diamond-shaped touch electrodes incolumn electrodes 1004 can include a floating electrode 1022. In someexamples, the ground electrodes embedded within the touch electrodes canbe electrically coupled together and to a ground routing trace 1018(e.g., in border region 1020). For example, ground electrodes 1014A and1014B can be coupled via bridge 1016B (illustrated as a diamond), andground electrode 1014B can be coupled to ground routing trace 1018 viabridge 1016A. Bridges 1016A and/or 1016B can be formed in a differentlayer than the metal mesh layer in which touch electrodes are formed, insome examples. In some examples, bridges 1016A and/or 1016B can becoupled via metal layer 510 in or proximate to substrate 509. In someexamples, touch electrodes forming row electrodes 1002, columnelectrodes 1004, ground electrodes 1014A-1014B, and floating electrodes1022 can be disposed in a first metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding tometal mesh layer 506) and bridges 1016A and/or 1016B can be formed ofmetal mesh in a second metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metalmesh layer 516), and can be coupled to the ground electrodes in thefirst metal mesh layer. In some examples, bridges between the activearea and the border region can be partially formed of metal mesh (e.g.,in the active area) and partially formed of non-metal mesh conductors(e.g., in the border region).

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bridge between a groundelectrode and a ground routing trace according to examples of thedisclosure. Ground electrode 1102 can correspond to a ground electrode1014B, ground routing trace 1104 can correspond to ground routing trace1018, and row electrode routing trace(s) 1106 can correspond to one ormore row electrode routing traces 1006 (e.g., in border region 1020)and/or 1012 (e.g., in active area 1010). Ground electrode 1102, groundrouting trace 1104, and row electrode routing traces 1106 can bedisposed in the same layer of metal mesh (e.g., corresponding to metalmesh layer 506) and/or other conductive material (e.g., in the borderregion). Bridge 1108 can correspond to bridge 1016B. Bridge 1108 canbypass the one or more row electrode routing trace(s) 1106, and canelectrically couple ground electrodes embedded in the row electrodes,such as ground electrode 1002, to ground routing trace 1104. In someexamples, bridge 1108 can be formed of metal mesh in a second metal meshlayer (e.g., corresponding to metal mesh layer 516), and can be coupledto ground electrodes (and routing traces) formed in the first metal meshlayer (e.g., by vias). In a similar manner, bridges between groundelectrodes 1014A and 1014B (e.g., corresponding to bridge 1016A) can beformed in the second metal mesh layer to couple ground electrodes formedin the first metal mesh layer.

In some examples, rather than reducing the size of some touch electrodesof row electrodes along the edge of the active area, some (or all) ofthe routing traces for row electrodes can be disposed within the activearea of a touch screen in another layer. FIG. 12 illustrates an exampletouch screen 1200 including routing traces routed within the active areaaccording to examples of the disclosure. Touch screen 1200 can includerow electrodes 1202 and column electrodes 1204 overlaid over active area1210 (e.g., corresponding to row electrodes 1202, column electrodes1204, and active area 1210). Although FIG. 12 illustrates touch screen1200 as including six row electrodes and five column electrodes, it isunderstood that touch screen 1200 can include different numbers of rowelectrodes and/or column electrodes. Unlike in touch screen 600 in FIG.6, in touch screen 1200 of FIG. 12, some row electrodes 1202 can berouted via routing traces 1206 disposed at least partially (or entirely)within active area 1210. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, allillustrated row electrodes 1202 can be routed via routing traces 1206.In some examples, the routing can also be mirrored on the right handside of touch screen 1200 such that the row electrodes 1202 can also berouted by routing traces 1206′. Although FIG. 12 illustrates all rowelectrodes 1202 routed via routing traces in the active area, it shouldbe understood that in some examples, some row electrodes 1202 can berouted via routing traces in border region 1220 (e.g., as illustrated inFIG. 13). For example, routing traces within a threshold distance of the(bottom) edge of the active area can be routed by routing traces in theactive area, and a row electrode outside of the threshold distance canbe routed in the border region (e.g., due to the increased impedanceassociated with longer routing traces).

Routing traces 1206 within the active area 1210 can be formed from metalmesh. For example, row electrodes 1202 (and column electrodes 1204) canbe formed in a first metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metal meshlayer 506) and routing traces 1206 can be formed in a second metal meshlayer (e.g., corresponding to metal mesh layer 516). Routing some or allof the row electrodes in the active area can allow for reducing theborder region by removing the routing for some or all of the rowelectrodes from the border region. For example, the width of the lefthand side of border region 1220 (labeled “W” in FIG. 12) can be reducedwith respect to the width of the left hand side of border region 620(labeled “W” in FIG. 6). In a similar manner the right hand side ofborder region 1220 can be reduced compared with the right hand side ofborder region 620 by routing some or all of the routing traces in activearea 1210. Additionally, because routing traces 1206 can be formed ofmetal mesh over active area 1210, touch electrodes of row electrodesalong the edge of the active area may not be reduced in size (e.g., incontrast to the illustration of reducing touch electrode size in FIGS. 7and 8).

In some examples, routing traces 1206 can have a width of two “metalmesh wire paths” (including the pitch distance spacing therebetween)such that the metal mesh wires form a closed diamond shape (or otherpolygonal shape), as illustrated in FIG. 9B. It should be understoodthat a different width is possible. For example, the width can be onemetal mesh wire path as illustrated in FIG. 9C. In some examples, thewidth of routing traces can be the same for each routing trace. In someexamples, the width of routing traces may not be uniform. For example,the further a row electrode is from the (bottom) edge of the activearea, the wider the routing trace can be. In some examples, the width ofrouting traces can be uniform or non-uniform for the length of therouting traces (e.g., the width can be two metal mesh wire paths in afirst region of the active area and can be more or less than two metalmesh wire paths in a second region of the active area).

Although routing traces 1206 (and 1206′) are shown at or near (within athreshold distance of) the edges of active area 1210, it should beunderstood that the routing trace to a respective row electrode can becoupled to a non-edge touch electrode of a row electrode. For example,dashed circles 1250 in FIG. 12 can represent an additional oralternative point of coupling of routing traces to touch electrodes ofrespective row electrodes.

In some examples, a touch screen including routing traces in the activearea as described with respect to FIG. 12 can also include ground and/orfloating electrodes (e.g., similar to touch screen 1000 of FIG. 10).FIG. 13 illustrates an example touch screen 1300 including row andcolumn electrodes according to examples of the disclosure. Touch screen1300 includes row electrodes 1302 and column electrodes 1304 formed ofdiamond-shaped touch electrodes. One or more of the diamond-shaped touchelectrodes in rows electrodes 1302 can include a ground (or otherpotential) electrode(s) 1314A and 1314B. One or more of thediamond-shaped touch electrodes in column electrodes 1304 can include afloating electrode 1322. In some examples, the ground electrodesembedded within the touch electrodes can be coupled together and to aground routing trace 1318 (e.g., in border region 1320). For example,ground electrodes 1314A and 1314B can be coupled via bridge 1316(illustrated as a diamond), and ground electrode 1314B can be coupled toground routing trace 1318. Bridges 1316 can be formed in a differentlayer than the metal mesh, in some examples. In some examples, bridges1316 can be coupled via metal layer 510 in or proximate to substrate509. In some examples, touch electrodes forming row electrodes 1302,column electrodes 1304, ground electrodes 1314A-1314B, and floatingelectrodes 1322 can be disposed in a first metal mesh layer (e.g.,corresponding to metal mesh layer 506) and bridges 1316 can be formed ofmetal mesh in a second metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metalmesh layer 516), and can be coupled to the ground electrodes in thefirst metal mesh layer.

In addition, some row electrodes 1302 (or all row electrodes asillustrated in FIG. 12) can be routed in active area 1310 by routingtraces 1312 formed of metal mesh in a second metal mesh layer (e.g.,corresponding to metal mesh layer 516), and can be coupled to the rowelectrodes in the first metal mesh layer (e.g., by a via). In someexamples, some of row electrodes 1302 can be routed by routing traces1306 in border region 1320. In some examples, a connection between arouting trace 1306 in the border region 1320 and a row electrode 1302 inactive region 1310 can be made via a bridge 1307 over ground routingtrace 1318. In some examples, bridge 1307 can be formed in a metal layer(e.g., metal layer 510) or at least partially in a metal mesh layer(e.g., metal mesh layer 516). In some examples, bridges between theactive area and the border region (e.g., such as bridges 1307) can bepartially formed of metal mesh (e.g., in the active area) and partiallyformed of non-metal mesh conductors (e.g., in the border region).

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a row electrode routingtrace over a ground electrode in the active area according to examplesof the disclosure. Ground electrode 1406 can correspond to a groundelectrode 1314B, and row touch electrode 1404 can correspond a touchelectrode of a row electrode 1302. Ground electrode 1406 and row touchelectrode 1404 can be disposed in the same layer of metal mesh (e.g.,corresponding to metal mesh layer 506) in the active region. Bridge 1408can correspond to at least part of a row touch electrode routing trace1312 in the active area. Bridge 1408 can bypass one (or more) groundelectrodes 1406 in the active area (and can couple to additional routingoutside of the active area). In some examples, bridge 1408 can be formedof metal mesh in a second metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metalmesh layer 516), and can be coupled to row touch electrodes formed inthe first metal mesh layer (e.g., by vias). In a similar manner, bridgesbetween ground electrodes 1314A and 1314B (e.g., corresponding to bridge1316) can be formed in the second metal mesh layer to couple groundelectrodes formed in the first metal mesh layer.

FIG. 15 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a bridge between a rowtouch electrode and a row electrode routing trace in a border region(over a ground routing trace) according to examples of the disclosure.Ground routing trace 1504 can correspond to ground routing trace 1318,row electrode routing trace 1506 can correspond to one or more rowelectrode routing traces 1306 and row touch electrode 1502 cancorrespond to a touch electrode of a row electrode 1302. Ground routingtrace 1504, row touch electrode 1502, and row electrode routing trace1506 can be disposed in the same layer of metal mesh (e.g.,corresponding to metal mesh layer 506) and/or other conductive material(e.g., in the border region). Bridge 1508 can correspond to bridge 1307.Bridge 1508 can bypass ground routing trace 1504 (and, in some examples,one or more row electrode routing trace(s)), and can couple the rowelectrodes to a row electrode routing trace, such as row touch electrode1502 to row electrode routing trace 1506. In some examples, bridge 1508can be formed of metal mesh in a second metal mesh layer (e.g.,corresponding to metal mesh layer 516), and can be coupled to row touchelectrode 1502 formed in the first metal mesh layer (e.g., by vias)and/or to row electrodes routing trace 1506 in the border area.

Although FIGS. 7 and 10, for example, illustrate reducing the size ofone or more metal mesh touch electrodes to enable active area rowelectrode routing in the same metal mesh layer, and FIGS. 12 and 13, forexample, illustrate active area row electrode routing in a differentmetal mesh layer, it should be understood that the features of thesefigures are not mutually exclusive. For example, some row electrodes canbe routed by active area routing traces (e.g., to the bottom borderregion) in the same metal mesh layer as the row electrodes (e.g., byreducing the size of one or more touch electrodes) and some rowelectrodes can be routed by active area routing traces in a differentmetal mesh layer than the row electrodes. In some examples, reducing thesize of one or more metal mesh touch electrodes can be implemented toimprove manufacturing yield when the impact on touch performance byreducing the size of one or more metal touch electrodes is within thedesign/application specification (e.g., less than a threshold). In someexamples, routing in the active area without reducing the size of one ormore touch electrodes can be employed where the impact on touchperformance by reducing the size of one or more metal touch electrodesis outside the design/application specification (e.g., greater than athreshold).

Therefore, according to the above, some examples of the disclosure aredirected to a touch screen. The touch screen can comprise: a displayhaving an active area and row electrodes disposed over the active areaof the display. A first row electrode of the row electrodes can be afirst distance from a first edge of the display perpendicular to the rowelectrodes, and a second row electrode of the row electrodes can be asecond distance, different from the first distance, from the first edgeof the display. The touch screen can further comprise a first routingtrace coupled to the first row electrode disposed in the active area ofthe display; and a second routing trace coupled to the second rowelectrode disposed in a border region around the active area of thedisplay. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, a first plurality of the rowelectrodes including the second row electrode can be at the firstdistance from the first edge. One routing trace corresponding to one ofthe first plurality of row electrodes can be disposed in the active areaof the display. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch screen can furthercomprise a plurality of routing traces disposed in the active area ofthe display, each of the plurality of routing traces coupled to acorresponding one of a plurality of the row electrodes. Each of theplurality of row electrodes can be at different distances from the firstedge. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the first row electrode can comprisea plurality of coupled touch electrodes having diamond shapes.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace can cross from theactive area of the display to the border region over a second edge ofthe display perpendicular to the first edge of the display. The firstrow electrode can be less than a threshold distance from the secondedge. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the second row electrode can begreater than the threshold distance from the second edge of the display.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the second routing trace can be wider than thefirst routing trace. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the second routing trace canbe longer than the first routing trace. Additionally or alternatively toone or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the firstrouting trace can be formed from metal mesh. Additionally oralternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in someexamples, the first routing trace can comprise metal mesh wires formingat least two paths from the first row electrode. Additionally oralternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in someexamples, the first routing trace can comprise metal mesh wires formingpolygonal shapes in the active area. Additionally or alternatively toone or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the firstrouting trace and the second routing trace can be formed in a commonlayer. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the first row electrode can comprisea plurality of coupled touch electrodes having a ground electrodedisposed within. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the ground electrode of afirst of the plurality of coupled touch electrodes and the groundelectrode of a second of the plurality of coupled touch electrodes canbe coupled together by a bridge. Additionally or alternatively to one ormore of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the groundelectrode of a first of the plurality of coupled touch electrodes can becoupled to a ground electrode in the border region via a bridgebypassing the first routing trace. Additionally or alternatively to oneor more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the pluralityof coupled touch electrodes having the ground electrode disposed withincan be formed in a first metal mesh layer and the bridge can be formedat least partially in a second metal mesh layer different from the firstmetal mesh layer.

Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a touch screen. Thetouch screen can comprise: a display having an active area; rowelectrodes disposed over the active area of the display formed in afirst metal mesh layer; and a first routing trace coupled to a first rowelectrode of the row electrodes. The first routing trace can be disposedin the active area of the display, and the first routing trace can beformed in a second metal mesh layer different from the first metal meshlayer. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the touch screen can furthercomprise: a second routing trace coupled to a second row electrode, thesecond routing trace disposed in a border region around the active areaof the display. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the first routing trace cancross from the active area of the display to the border region over afirst edge of the display and the second routing trace can cross fromthe active area of the display to a border region over a second edge ofthe display perpendicular to the first edge of the display. The secondrow electrode can be greater than a threshold distance from the firstedge. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the first row electrode can be lessthan the threshold distance from the first edge of the display.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace coupled to a first rowelectrode of the row electrodes can be a first distance from the secondedge of the display perpendicular to the row electrodes, and a thirdrouting trace coupled to a third row electrode of the row electrodes canbe a second distance from the second edge of the display different fromthe first distance. The third routing trace can be disposed in theactive area of the display and the third routing trace can be formed inthe second metal mesh layer different from the first metal mesh layer.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first row electrode can comprise aplurality of coupled touch electrodes having diamond shapes.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, a first plurality of the row electrodesincluding the first row electrode can be coupled to a plurality ofrouting traces including the first routing trace to corresponding touchelectrodes of the first plurality of row electrodes within a firstdistance from a first edge of the display. The plurality of routingtraces including the first routing trace can be disposed in the activearea of the display. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the first routing trace canbe narrower than the second routing trace. Additionally or alternativelyto one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, thefirst routing trace can be shorter than the second routing trace.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace can comprise metal meshwires forming at least two paths from the first row electrode.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace can comprise metal meshwires forming polygonal shapes in the active area. Additionally oralternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in someexamples, the first routing trace and the second routing trace can beformed in different layers. Additionally or alternatively to one or moreof the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first rowelectrode can comprise a plurality of coupled touch electrodes having aground electrode disposed within. Additionally or alternatively to oneor more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the groundelectrode of a first of the plurality of coupled touch electrodes andthe ground electrode of a second of the plurality of coupled touchelectrodes can be coupled together by a bridge in the second metal meshlayer. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the ground electrode of a first ofthe plurality of coupled touch electrodes can be coupled to a groundelectrode in the border region in the first metal mesh layer.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the row electrodes can comprise a plurality ofcoupled touch electrodes having a ground electrode disposed within. Oneof the plurality of coupled touch electrodes can be coupled to acorresponding routing trace the border region via a bridge bypassing aground electrode in the border region. Additionally or alternatively toone or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, thebridge bypassing the ground electrode in the border region can bedisposed at least partially in the second metal mesh layer.

Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a device. The device cancomprise an energy storage device, communication circuitry, and a touchscreen. The touch screen can comprise: a display having an active area;row electrodes disposed over the active area of the display formed in afirst metal mesh layer; and a first routing trace coupled to a first rowelectrode of the row electrodes. The first routing trace can be disposedin the active area of the display, and the first routing trace can beformed in a second metal mesh layer different from the first metal meshlayer. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the touch screen can furthercomprise: a second routing trace coupled to a second row electrode, thesecond routing trace disposed in a border region around the active areaof the display. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the first routing trace cancross from the active area of the display to the border region over afirst edge of the display and the second routing trace can cross fromthe active area of the display to a border region over a second edge ofthe display perpendicular to the first edge of the display. The secondrow electrode can be greater than a threshold distance from the firstedge. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the first row electrode can be lessthan the threshold distance from the first edge of the display.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace coupled to a first rowelectrode of the row electrodes can be a first distance from the secondedge of the display perpendicular to the row electrodes, and a thirdrouting trace coupled to a third row electrode of the row electrodes canbe a second distance from the second edge of the display different fromthe first distance. The third routing trace can be disposed in theactive area of the display and the third routing trace can be formed inthe second metal mesh layer different from the first metal mesh layer.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first row electrode can comprise aplurality of coupled touch electrodes having diamond shapes.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, a first plurality of the row electrodesincluding the first row electrode can be coupled to a plurality ofrouting traces including the first routing trace to corresponding touchelectrodes of the first plurality of row electrodes within a firstdistance from a first edge of the display. The plurality of routingtraces including the first routing trace can be disposed in the activearea of the display. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of theexamples disclosed above, in some examples, the first routing trace canbe narrower than the second routing trace. Additionally or alternativelyto one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, thefirst routing trace can be shorter than the second routing trace.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace can comprise metal meshwires forming at least two paths from the first row electrode.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the first routing trace can comprise metal meshwires forming polygonal shapes in the active area. Additionally oralternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in someexamples, the first routing trace and the second routing trace can beformed in different layers. Additionally or alternatively to one or moreof the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first rowelectrode can comprise a plurality of coupled touch electrodes having aground electrode disposed within. Additionally or alternatively to oneor more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the groundelectrode of a first of the plurality of coupled touch electrodes andthe ground electrode of a second of the plurality of coupled touchelectrodes can be coupled together by a bridge in the second metal meshlayer. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examplesdisclosed above, in some examples, the ground electrode of a first ofthe plurality of coupled touch electrodes can be coupled to a groundelectrode in the border region in the first metal mesh layer.Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosedabove, in some examples, the row electrodes can comprise a plurality ofcoupled touch electrodes having a ground electrode disposed within. Oneof the plurality of coupled touch electrodes can be coupled to acorresponding routing trace the border region via a bridge bypassing aground electrode in the border region. Additionally or alternatively toone or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, thebridge bypassing the ground electrode in the border region can bedisposed at least partially in the second metal mesh layer.

Although examples of this disclosure have been fully described withreference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that variouschanges and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as beingincluded within the scope of examples of this disclosure as defined bythe appended claims.

1. A touch screen comprising: a display having an active area; rowelectrodes disposed over the active area of the display formed in afirst metal mesh layer; and a first routing trace coupled to a first rowelectrode of the row electrodes, wherein the first routing trace isdisposed in the active area of the display, and wherein the firstrouting trace is formed in a second metal mesh layer different from thefirst metal mesh layer.
 2. The touch screen of claim 1, furthercomprising: a second routing trace coupled to a second row electrode,the second routing trace disposed in a border region around the activearea of the display.
 3. The touch screen of claim 2, wherein the firstrouting trace crosses from the active area of the display to the borderregion over a first edge of the display and the second routing tracecrosses from the active area of the display to a border region over asecond edge of the display perpendicular to the first edge of thedisplay, wherein the second row electrode is greater than a thresholddistance from the first edge.
 4. The touch screen of claim 3, whereinthe first row electrode is less than the threshold distance from thefirst edge of the display.
 5. The touch screen of claim 3, wherein thefirst routing trace coupled to a first row electrode of the rowelectrodes is a first distance from the second edge of the displayperpendicular to the row electrodes, and a third routing trace coupledto a third row electrode of the row electrodes is a second distance fromthe second edge of the display different from the first distance,wherein the third routing trace is disposed in the active area of thedisplay and the third routing trace is formed in the second metal meshlayer different from the first metal mesh layer.
 6. The touch screen ofclaim 2, wherein the first routing trace is narrower than the secondrouting trace.
 7. The touch screen of claim 2, wherein the first routingtrace is shorter than the second routing trace.
 8. The touch screen ofclaim 2, wherein the first routing trace and the second routing traceare formed in different layers.
 9. The touch screen of claim 2, whereinthe row electrodes comprise a plurality of coupled touch electrodeshaving a ground electrode disposed within, wherein one of the pluralityof coupled touch electrodes is coupled to a corresponding routing tracethe border region via a bridge bypassing a ground electrode in theborder region.
 10. The touch screen of claim 9, wherein the bridgebypassing the ground electrode in the border region is disposed at leastpartially in the second metal mesh layer.
 11. The touch screen of claim1, wherein the first row electrode comprises a plurality of coupledtouch electrodes having diamond shapes.
 12. The touch screen of claim 1,wherein a first plurality of the row electrodes including the first rowelectrode are coupled to a plurality of routing traces including thefirst routing trace to corresponding touch electrodes of the firstplurality of row electrodes within a first distance from a first edge ofthe display, and wherein the plurality of routing traces including thefirst routing trace are disposed in the active area of the display. 13.The touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first routing trace comprisesmetal mesh wires forming at least two paths from the first rowelectrode.
 14. The touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first routingtrace comprises metal mesh wires forming polygonal shapes in the activearea.
 15. The touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first row electrodecomprises a plurality of coupled touch electrodes having a groundelectrode disposed within.
 16. The touch screen of claim 15, wherein theground electrode of a first of the plurality of coupled touch electrodesand the ground electrode of a second of the plurality of coupled touchelectrodes are coupled together by a bridge in the second metal meshlayer.
 17. The touch screen of claim 15, wherein the ground electrode ofa first of the plurality of coupled touch electrodes is coupled to aground electrode in the border region in the first metal mesh layer. 18.A device comprising: an energy storage device; communication circuitry;and a touch screen comprising: a display having an active area; rowelectrodes disposed over the active area of the display formed in afirst metal mesh layer; and a first routing trace coupled to a first rowelectrode of the row electrodes, wherein the first routing trace isdisposed in the active area of the display, and wherein the firstrouting trace is formed in a second metal mesh layer different from thefirst metal mesh layer.
 19. A touch screen comprising: a display havingan active area; row electrodes disposed over the active area of thedisplay, wherein a first row electrode of the row electrodes is a firstdistance from a first edge of the display perpendicular to the rowelectrodes, and a second row electrode of the row electrodes is a seconddistance, different from the first distance, from the first edge of thedisplay; a first routing trace coupled to the first row electrodedisposed in the active area of the display; and a second routing tracecoupled to the second row electrode disposed in a border region aroundthe active area of the display.
 20. The touch screen of claim 19,wherein the first routing trace crosses from the active area of thedisplay to the border region over a second edge of the displayperpendicular to the first edge of the display, wherein the first rowelectrode is less than a threshold distance from the second edge.